Emperor's Reckoning

Meanwhile back in the Fifth Hall.

The headmaster was sitting—  with his legs crossed —in front of his trusted cauldron. By his side was a cup of tea that he had prepared for himsel5f, but there was no scent of it left lingering in the air. He had not sipped a single time, for his mind was clouded.

"Hm~" he let out a rare heavy sigh. The note that he received from the matriarch of the Yuki Clan had weighed his mind, and he could feel his eyes were getting more corroded as seconds went by. He had stayed all night thinking about it. "I never thought that the rumor was true, she indeed has a child."

He sighed before he stood up. "I left the tea since morning and not one time have I sipped it."

He left the little hut room and left the Fifth Hall.

---

Back in the dome.

"There goes the first round," said Hilde. "Lo and behold, he passed it with flying marks."

Princess Cherie chuckled, "It seems like the appropriate case for him is what is the thing that he can not do rather than can do."

Zet, Porealus, Tael, Carius— nodded in unison. They had seen firsthand how ridiculous this young man was. He was a kine to a miracle child, being nothing but set forth miracles in his path.

However, the young man that they admired clearly didn't share the same feeling.

Lyon slouched his shoulders forward as he sighed. He never thought that the test would be more than one. (I'm starting to doubt that I want to continue this).

"Alright, congratulations to all of you rookies," said Malaqa with a smile. "The next round will begin shortly after the demonstration of our alchemist Renduval."

"What, again?" Lyon commented before he sighed.

(Why are you so dispirited?!) Renduval's lips twitched.

Malaqa kept her smile as she looked at Lyon. It was clear that he was born with a gift none other had, but his heart was not set on the same path as it. "The second round is going to be putting your soul flame under the cauldron, pretty simple."

Renduval nodded before he lit up his green soul flame in both of his palms. With a single intent of his thought, the soul flame traveled under the cauldron and flared.

"En," Malaqa nodded seeing the soul flame perfectly set under the cauldron. "This is the control that you must have in order to be one of our Alchemists— Thank you, Renduval."

Renduval nodded, "Your welcome, Elder Malaqa."

"Uh, question," Lyon raised his hand.

"Hm?" Malaqa raised his brows. "Yes?"

"Why can't we just use regular fire?" asked Lyon before the whole dome went silent. A pin drop could be heard, it was dead silent. His eyebrows furrowed as he saw Malaqa blink a few times. (What the... is that a stupid question?).

"W-What? Is it not possible?" asked Lyon.

"Lyon," Renduval called out.

"What?"

"You..." Renduval leaned in and whispered, "You do know the basics of alchemy right?"

"Is that rhetorical?" asked Lyon before he snorted. "Of course, I know it! Well, not the present me at least."

"What? What are you talking about?!" asked Renduval frowned.

Kesya chuckled, "This is why I love him so much!"

Cecile snorted a chuckle, "I guess being oblivious is also his charm, huh. Well, from his point of view, can we blame him for asking?"

Lumina sighed.

Malaqa smiled, "That's because of the special property of the soul flame being able to rid impurities and fused the ingredients together then shaped it, regular fire would just make it warm instead."

"Oh, I see," Lyon nodded. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, however..."

"Hm?"

"No, nothing," Malaqa smiled (He should know this beforehand though, especially with Elise recommending him).

Malaqa turned and look at the rest of the rookies, "Alright, you three, your task is fairly simple. Do what Renduval did and do not explode the cauldron."

"Explode?" Lyon raised his brows before he vaguely remembered what happened in Luderia. "Heh."

"Go," said Malaqa before the two rookies immediately started their soul flame and place it under the cauldron perfectly. There was not a single mistake and their eyes were fixated on their own cauldron. The white soul flame flared and they were ready to concoct.

"En, good," said Malaqa before she turned and looked at Lyon, "Well? What about you?"

Lyon smiled before he activated his soul flame. The crackling white soul flame was in his own class for the fire reached his shoulders. A single thought, a single intent. The fire immediately flowed like mana itself and was resting under the cauldron.

The size of the flare put the others to shame, there was no contest,  a league of its own. The burning fire of his soul flame could challenge the very law of creation.

"Hmm, astonishing," muttered Tamuh as he furrowed his brows. "If he could control that abnormality, then he would be an amazing alchemist in no time. However, how does that fare with handling conspicuous ingredients."

"Alchemy is more than just talent, it's a skill," said Elise as she looked carefully at Lyon. (Still, his fire exactly resembles what was written in the book. However, it belonged to a woman? I wonder if that has anything to do with it).

Malaqa nodded. "Very good, look's like the size doesn't betray the performance."

"Woah!"

The crowd went astonished. It was praise straight from an elder, even the alchemist of the Alchemy Union rarely experienced it.

Lyon let out a snort as he grinned. His soul flame slightly flared than usual as his concentration appeared to be muddled with something. (Goddamn humor of mine, hahaaha!) he laughed inwardly and felt an itch in one of his nostrils.

"T-That's what she said," said Lyon before he burst out into laughter. The soul flame was flaring uncontrollably before the cauldron silently cracked. The sudden burst of thump from his thought brought a result that he himself was not aware of.